Phyllis Ginger

Phyllis Ginger (1907-2005) was a London-born artist and illustrator whose work included a contribution towards the Recording Britain project which was commissioned early during the Second World War; some 1500 pieces of artwork were produced to record the country before possible destruction, or, as was expected, invasion.

I recently picked up a copy of London, a very personal view by Mrs Robert Henrey, which is illustrated by a number of Phyllis Ginger's watercolours. This was first published in 1948, although my copy appears to be a 1955 edition with a 1970 dust jacket (the picture of Parliament Square has been actually stuck on!).

St Gile's Cripplegate

Piccadilly Circus

Leicester Square

Haymarket

Looking forward to the summer of '53

A Butlins holiday was the choice for many families after the war; this appeared on the back cover of Photoplay magazine, March 1953.

Municipal Pride

Two city guides from 1926 (Leeds) and 1928 (Newcastle).

Good Vibrations.........

From Lilliput magazine, December 1955

Airfix Motor Racing

Kit-manufacturer Airfix introduced their slot-racing system in 1963, competing with the already established (in 1957) Scalextric sets. The system was made to 1/32nd scale, which also allowed for the motorization of cars in their kit range.  Always seen as inferior (at least by us, as kids) to Scalextric, they were eventually discontinued, I believe in the early 1970s. I had both for a while, acquiring Airfix cars and track as a swap for some Hornby model railway stuff; what was I thinking?!

This is the 6th, penultimate, edition of the catalogue, probably dating from around 1969/70. It was just a wee bit to big for the scanner, hence a few edges are clipped. Airfix kits are still available, now owned by Hornby, as are Scalextric.

Muriel Pavlow

Actress Muriel Pavlow appeared in many film and TV roles, particularly in the 1950s and later, from the 1980s. Credits include Doctor in the House, Reach for the Sky, Dixon of Dock Green, Emmerdale, Men Behaving Badly and Perfect Strangers.This photograph appeared in Picturegoer magazine, 22 November 1952.

Buy Blighty!

The humorous magazine Blighty, has appeared before on this blog; here is an advert from the Daily Herald, 29 July 1953.